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Blog Identity Crisis

I think I have blog envy.

I write a food blog. I love writing about food, especially from my perspective as a locavore. I’m passionate about my subject matter, so why, when I read other blogs, do I feel envious and dissatisfied?

To clarify, I don’t feel envious when I read another food or recipe blog (well, maybe jealous that I’m not eating the food depicted in the beautiful photos on say, Darla Cooks). I only feel this gnawing sense of envy in the innermost part of my stomach when I read HUMOR blogs.

Humor blogs are like the variety shows of the blog world. You never know what you’re going to get: jokes, embarrassing stories, polls, contests, giveaways, slide shows, and photoshopped images are commonplace. Each post is a tiny well-crafted comedy memoir (or at least a glimpse inside the brain of a really funny person).

I not only envy humor bloggers, but I also admire them. Mainly because they laugh in the face of reality:

So I just split my pants in front of the entire conference room whilst bending over to pick up a dry erase marker?It’s okay, because I have a blog.

So I just “let a few fly” (in quick succession) during Downward Facing Dog at my 6:30 yoga class?Great! Fodder for the blog!

So I just spilled an entire caramel macchiatto with extra caramel all over my dangerously attractive co-worker while trying to press an elevator button AND lick the extra caramel off the side of my cup?No problem! I’ll put it on the blog!

So I just went on the worst date in history, which included being trapped in a dark room and consequently being forced to develop film for the university newspaper?All is well, because of the blog!

The dark room story actually happened to me, but unless I can somehow relate it to food or a local restaurant, you will never hear the tale.

Do you see my dilemma?

While I don’t foresee myself abandoning my food blog any time soon, sometimes I dream of joining the mirthful ranks of my favorite funny bloggers at Go Jules Go, Childhood Relived,The Good Greatsby and The Byronic Man. These bloggers make me LOL with each post they publish. I nod and chuckle when Angie from Childhood Relived mentions Cabbage Patch Kids or New Kids On The Block. I find myself laughing like a fool and wishing I could take a PowerPoint class from Jules over at Go Jules Go. Each time Paul at The Good Greatsby is mean tomentions his kids I have a fit. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself, “Oh Byronic Man, you dapper devil, you are so very clever” while giggling uproariously at his observations. But not only are these bloggers funny, they can also WRITE with wit and creativity. (I know that some, if not all of them, are in the Freshly Pressed club. It’s kind of a big deal, for those of you not familiar with the WordPress world.) I have blog envy on so many levels!

So what’s an aspiring humor blogger writing about local food to do? Can I inform and inspire as well as entertain? Should I attempt to write a funny food blog or a foodie humor blog? Can a blog even be two things at once? Does my blog have an identity crisis? Or do I have an identity crisis?

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36 comments

Rache, what’s REALLY weird is I got the alert for this as I was working on my next post which features your slap braceleted awesomeness (I’m going to TRY to get it up Thurs, but I have another deadline and it might not make it up ’til Friday), and if those pictures don’t prove your wicked-awesome sense of humor, I don’t know what does! I think you’re very funny in general, and could easily inject even more of that silliness here if you wanted to, while still keeping the ‘local food’ angle. I mean, how fun is it to joke about the people who get really self-righteous? I love that something I’m passionate about (natural and locally grown food) is made approachable and unpretentious on your blog.

And then, too, is your impeccable taste. This is truly flattering, thank you! I can’t wait to show you off on my blog.

You said so many words that made me smile: “impeccable taste” “wicked-awesome” and “unpretentious” just to name a few. THANKS, Jules! You are one of my blogging role models–funny, genuine, witty, and positive. I CANNOT wait to see this slap bracelet post. It’s like a WordPress love fest over here!

So if I had a humor blog I could write about how last night’s dream came true. I woke up in a panic after dreaming I got The Good Greatsby’s name wrong on this post. You can imagine my horror when I realized I transposed the Good and the Great (I fixed it right away). What a grievous error! And I just have to deal with my shame privately like a normal person rather than turning it into a self-deprecating post. I hope The Good Greatsby can forgive me…

That’s really flattering to be on your short list – thanks. As for “how to be funny,” well, I’d recommend purchasing my DVD “Byronic Man Shows You How To Be Funny.” It’s only $49.95, and when you purchase it, I 100% guarantee that you will have paid me $49.95. (Oh man, see what I did there? Reversal of expectation. Boom. Instant funny.)

Actually, you seem to have such great spirit to your writing, that it doesn’t seem like any envy is in order – just let that flow through; and as you point out – troubling moments are less troubling when you can see them as blog fodder.

First (no particular order), I love the crackly paper-look of your replies.
Second, I can’t believe you put me in the same list as those comedy behemoths.
Third, thank you for that.
Fourth, hello? Are you forgetting Julie and Julia? Okay…not my favorite writing but it is labeled under comedy and food. Also, hello? Charlie Chaplin with his bread roll dance? Loads of opportunity to be funny with the food. Loads.
Fifth, I just subscribed. It’s about time, right.
Sixth, you are indeed funny.
Seventh, would you like to do a guest post on my blog? To give you something new to write about? Write me if you’re interested. I’m going on a staycation soon and would welcome material to fill the void.
Eighth, I don’t have one but I’m uneasy about ending on odd numbers.

This comment reply proves you are a comedy behemoth ! You are so right about Julie and Julia! I own a first edition of the book. I was enthralled with it when it first came out.
I am all about helping fellow bloggers by exploiting myself on their blogs, especially during a staycation. Count me in!
Oh, and thanks so much for the follow. :)

Hey :) I’m pretty new to WordPress so I’m just finding my feet. I’ve been looking around at blogs and I’ve been really nervous and probably a little jealous too, of how funny the writers are. I’m not sure if I can be that witty. Maybe, I suppose we will see. Anyway, good luck with the identity crisis!

Maybe I could call it blog envy, maybe not. There’s only so much I can write on the subjects of dirt or kids. My “humor” usually lies in the latter (soil is pretty nearly “reality,” as I see it). My REAL problem is the G-rating of my audience when sometimes I just really NEEEEEEED to post something naughty!! So I throw in a little grenade to scratch my itch. If my mother-in-law doesn’t gripe about it, it stays (to be fair, I don’t think she even got the joke). (http://wp.me/p28k6D-xN)

It’s really no fair sometimes that Angie, Byronic, and Jules get to have all the nasty fun. But then again, they don’t get the day-to-day gorgeous nature and experiences that I do either — even if I don’t know how to write about them. Count your blessings. Mine is earth and kids, yours is food.

Shannon! We had the same glasses! Good luck to you in the contest as well! :)

I am in the process of writing a mushroom post, and lo and behold, you link me to a fabulous post about mushrooms. Now I have mushroom post envy. I LOVED your joke (totally got it. haha.) and your gorgeous photos.

I say we should both post whatever we want, despite the subject matter or our mothers-in-law. :) Byronic, Angie, and Jules can be our role models.

Well if you think posts about mushrooms are good, then I totally your gal! As far as envy goes, any posts about ‘shrooms are good. No need to envy my outlook on them — just envy how useful and awesome they are (in passing nutrients through each fungi’s system, think “conveyor belt”).

Mindreader!! I’ve had that same dilemma for quite some time and still occasionally struggle with it.
When I started blogging, I didn’t like how 99% of food blogs took themselves too seriously so I set out to have the do the opposite. I’d like to think that I have the funniest food blog out there, but have found only 2-3 people that agree. And one of them’s my cat. Over time, I started to blog about music, theater, and (recently) my shoes.

I was thinking I should change my blog name to something like “Funny John’s Jocular Place of Humor”, but then people would accuse me of being North Korean. Seriously, though, if you have to say “This is a humor blog” it probably isn’t much of one… I don’t labels in general so I always revert to “Screw it, it’s my blog.”

I took a peek around your blog and you ARE funny. Keep up the good work and don’t worry about posting on non-food stuff. Just be yourself!

What you did with the bracelets was really creative and FUNNY! After having blog envy for months, it turned into a bad case of blogitis. To rid yourself of Blogitis you have to remember what makes you you and why you began to blog anyway. You can defintelly talk funny with food. Either way your blog is Awesome!

Thank you!!! I have come to terms with my voice, which is funny most of the time (at least I think so! ha!) but it doesn’t mean I need to start a humor blog. Thanks so much for stopping by. Your blog is beautiful btw!